is Academy of Arts a good school to go to

#1541

Well, I’m not sure since the semester is under way, but it never hurts to apply now, cause somebody might move out, so you never know.

#1542

I heard that the neighborhood around the Jones dorm isnt the greatest… what do you guys think of it?

#1543

Well, the majority of dorms/apartments are all within about a 5 block radius of each other, so unless you get into that one graduate apartment building, or the other one, they’re all pretty much in the same area. And don’t listen to people, it’s a nice area, we are high up on the hill, and there’s no “shady” people around, unless you feel like going for a stroll at 4am, then you might run into 1 or 2, but other then that, it’s nice.

#1544

Well, I got back from SF a couple days ago. The city is beautiful. I got to go on a general tour, animation tour, and a housing tour. Everything looked pretty nice and the computer labs were pretty big. On the housing tour we got to check out the 620 Sutter dorm. It looked really nice, especially with a pool and gym downstairs. Any thoughts on this dorm? Thanks.

#1545

My girlfriend and i are planning on going to this school in fall 07, moving from the panhandle of florida. I was curious if its possible to be in a dorm together. Im assuming no, but if not then we’ll look for a studio. Also does anyone know how getting a car into california works? I know there are higher emmision standerds but i dont want to be without a car.

#1546

I would really just avoid the dorms all together, they’re way way way overpriced and not that great. The only benefit to dorms is meeting people, but you should be able to do that in your classes. If you have the option I’d look for a place on craigslist or somewhere else because you’ll get way more for your money.

#1547

Looking to start Jan 2007, Focussing on 3d modeling! Im doing all my paper work. Ill kit in this section to see If i can meey up with some new heads to rock it in SF.

#1548

Wow, I almost can’t believe this thread is still alive.

I only just found out that Academy of Arts in SF offers a full Online Course schedule for a BFA. I believed this to be the answer to my prayers, as I live in North Carolina and cannot attend /anywhere/.

But they make you take English and History? How ridiculous. I wouldn’t even want to waste my time at a community college on rubbish like this - I’m 33, a mom of three - and I’m really REALLY over those sorts of classes. and certainly not for $1600 a pop.

Does every single BFA program make you take classes that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Art? I was so excited, and now I’m just downtrodden.

#1549

If you take 2nd degree then you won’t have to take any of those liberal arts classes ^^

#1550

posted this on another thread but thought it might be of some help…

Debt…ahhhh debt…it is there but it will only hang over my head untill I can pay it all off about 17 Gs left. I did just as you said Kumo, took most of my undergrad non-artistic classes at a community college (College of Marin) (and they actually had a few 3d classes by a great teacher)!!! This is what got me into 3d. Then I transferred as many units as I could to AAC in san francisco.

This is where it gets difficult, I really had to fight for them to accept as many credits as possible. They cap any student @ around 40 units which tends to be about a years worth of classes. THEY WANT YOU TO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN GET FROM YOU! The school is run like a business, I guess because that is what it is, a FOR PROFIT school!

Anyway I am now employed in south san fran making pennies, but getting expirience. Although not what I expected I am working in the ArchVis feild. Oh how I long for the days when I used to be able to spend 10 hours on a rasta golfers face for a game concept.

Hope this helps! And I am out to help with any questions you all have about the school!

#1551

Runecaster,
If you want a real degree you have to take these classes at least somewhere. In order for the school to be allowed to grant BFA, AA, and MFA the must follow a strigent guidline set out by the Bureaue for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, in addition to being accredited by the ACICS and NASAD.

#1552

Even in the field of your choice they make you take totally unrelated classes, which is the majority of classes you need to take. If you are lets say a vfx major, they make you take like 3 storyboarding classes and 2 classes on clothed figure drawing and heads and hands. They CAN be valuable but those worthless classes can take up about 30K

As for online classes, I havent heard a single success story as of yet (success meaning someone actually getting a job). I would wait abuot three years for that.

#1553

You sure about that? I’m a vfx major myself, and the department directors are very adamant in keeping me out of those types of classes. As in, if I took another drawing class, I might get yelled at.

And not to take the point of defending AAU, but for those of you surprised to hear that you can’t get a BFA without taking a few unrelated classes… try going to a real college. Almost every single college in this country does the same thing. I wouldn’t be surpried if, in order for AAU to maintain what accreditation they do have, they’re even required to do so.
My previous school didn’t just require English. It also required public speaking, psychology, several courses in history, and a wonderful branch of required credits referred to as “humanities/social sciences,” which included such invaluable classes as “sex and the 21st century,” “fire, myth and mankind,” and “dance in society.” These requirements applied to everyone, from art majors to music majors to computer science majors. Everyone.
I hate to say it, but that is the level that most of the colleges in this country have fallen to. Get used to it. :shrug:

#1554

vfx shouldn’t waste time on drawing and painting… it’s worthless.
vormav, u’ve got a good director. at least they’re not f’in u over =)

i’ll keep it short for u rune.
don’t take online classes for major courses. you’ll waste your money.
you need the personal care, meeting with others face to face and getting critiqued, teachers/friends showing you how to do things infront of you while you watch, etc.
so many other reasons…

dont blow ur precious money on online classes if u’re serious about this.
I’d rather go around and find free tutorials.
goodluck!

#1555

Wow, you’re just so very wrong about that.

#1556

Please realize when you are in aau, it is a relashipship between YOU: the consumer and THEM: the merchant. Think of your classes as something that will aid YOU not them. VFX is tough and our school isnt so far on the right track to providing classes or teachers to help students.
Realize that companies look for technical students to work in vfx. By vfx I mean particles, scripting, shading, coding, etc, NOT compositing or matchmoving. You can take all the drawing classes and perspective classes at aau but if you cannot pull an fx shot on your own or learn to write mel scripts and think out of the box to problem solve then maybe vfx isnt your road.
People think learning art you need to learn to draw or paint, but in vfx I feel the art is in learning to code, problem solving and having an eye to observe fx.
Dont bother with online classes unless you need to take those mandatory classes like histroy and such. There is something great in sitting in the classes learning from school mates and talking and asking questions rather than typing them in an online forum…
Some new fx classes are the Realflow and the Renderman classes. I can vouch for the Renderman class and I got a lot from it. The realflow however I heard the teacher is GAWFUL, but if you want to spend some time learning it then its another class thats available.

#1557

Your terminology is a little off. VFX means visual effects, and encompasses all the disciplines used in the process of creating CGI imagery, including matchmoving, roto, FX, modeling, shading, texture painting, lighting and compositing. Particles and such are FX work, and simply one aspect of the entire production pipeline.

#1558

[i]

Originally Posted by Digiegg
vfx shouldn’t waste time on drawing and painting… it’s worthless.

I would also have to disagree with you so very much! The classes in analysis of form, figure drawing, and color design were some of the most benefitial to my overall education (although the most difficult for me personally), and the teachers are top knotch! Lee Ballard is an amazing instructor if anyone gets a chance to take a course with him. Also classes in more physical types of animation such as “experimental animation” with Misha Klein where anything goes from scratch on film to stop mo and hibred animation combigning green screen shoots with stop mo charachters was an amazing way to learn principles without having to deal with any technical difficulties (it was also a hell of alot of fun!).
[/i]

#1559

oh? How does learning fine art help a VFX artist?
to pay $1600 per class and having them make you take 4 - 6 of them.
I mean… is that really fair for the vfx artist?
Clothed figure drawing, figure drawing, still life painting, heads and hands, analysis of form, etc.
How does it help with coding, particle fx, mo-cap, etc.
Not trying to be offensive but I don’t see any good reasons behind it.

As a modeler? Yes you should definately learn them, but more sculpting rather.

bb3d… i really hope you’re not a VFX major… cause that’d be just sad… so sad.

#1560

Well, I am a VFX artist. I studied fine arts, which included painting and drawing, and it has helped me immensely over the years. You’re more than welcome to do a search for my name on IMDB.com to see where my drawing and painting has helped me.

There is a lot more to VFX than particles and coding (refer to my previous post).